The Money Spy website

Welcome to The Money Spy....This is where we will be posting articles, latest news updates, opinions, prompting discussions or just about anything interesting related to finance. If you would like to contact us then call 01892 506970 or email info@themoneyspy.net

The political entanglements in the euro area are escalating. Last week a triumvirate of finance ministers from Germany, Holland and Finland put a rather large spoke in the wheel. You may know that during the summer it was agreed that Spain’s banks could be bailed out directly by the IMF, EU Commission and the ECB via the organisation called the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). But last week the three finance ministers issued a statement saying: “The ESM can take direct responsibility for problems that occur under the new supervision, but legacy assets should be under the responsibility of national authorities.” So what was that: “legacy issues”? What does that mean? Were they referring to bank bail-outs that occurred some time ago, such as Ireland’s? If this is the case, their statement seems pretty reasonable. Alternatively, were they referring to the bail-out of Spain’s banks? Many interpreted it that way, leading to claims that Spain had been betrayed.

Meanwhile, Helmut Kohl – who as you may recall was German Chancellor during German reunification, and an out and out supporters of the euro – made a speech in which he said of Angela Merkel: “She is destroying my Europe.” He called for giving Greece more time to make its reforms.

Then there was Vaclav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic. When his country joined the EU, its leaders signed a treaty agreeing to also join the euro at some point in the future. But the treaty imposed no time frame. So when did Mr Klaus think this will happen?

“Perhaps in the year 2074 we can join the European Monetary Union,” he said last week.

So that wasn’t very nice about the euro, was it?

In the UK, calls for a referendum on staying in the EU are growing, and the talk is that David Cameron will pledge to hold such a referendum if he wins the next election.

That’s the snag. Either the euro falls apart, which – according to many – will be a disaster for the world economy, or we see closer political union, which will probably leave the UK’s membership of the EU in tatters.

But there is a third way. The euro could survive, without political union.

Investment and Business News is a succinct, sometimes amusing often thought provoking and always informative email newsletter. Our readers say they look forward to receiving it, and so will you. Sign-up here